Job search tips

Is Your Job Search Sucking Wind?

Your fingers ache. Your overworked printer seems possessed – it spit out a nasty letter to you late last night. Today as you stroll down Main Street, an invisible evilness rips off and shreds "Now Hiring!" signs and showers the confetti over smiling, just-hired employees only steps ahead of you.

You have job search exhaustion. The entire process is taunting you. And you need a second wind - a burst of focused motivation to get you across the finish line and into a sweet new uniform.

If this describes your agonizing job hunt, wonder why no more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the three short years stretching from 2007 to 2010, the average time it takes folks to find new jobs doubled from five to 10 weeks. But wait, there’s more: the longer you drift past this 10-week mark, the harder it gets. Whereas job seekers used to throw in the towel after about nine weeks of searching back in 2007, last year the average timeframe ballooned to nearly five months.

Your competition for available jobs is not shrinking, and it’s not going away any time soon. Whether you've been pounding the pavement or scouring the 'Net for hot job leads for four months or 14, it's tough out there. Just as the job market flirts with recovery, we get news of first-time jobless claims hitting the 427K mark. You have plenty of company, and as the saying goes, misery loves company. It might get you down, but don’t let it get you out.

This is that part of the blog post where we duck into your corner, splash some cold water on your face, blast the "Rocky" theme song and apply your war paint. You can't give up. You won't give up. Failure is not an option.

How to recapture your job search mojo:

3. Rip up (or delete) your resume: Something isn't working. Maybe it's the font, the typo-ohs, the order of all the info, the Hot Pocket grease stain, the way you describe your past experience or a little of everything.

2. Get a training partner: Find a pal or aquaintance in your same situation and conduct practice interviews, proofread each other's resumes and applications, pick each other up after the "thanks, but no thanks" call, and awkwardly slap each other high-five when the offer call or letter comes. With the exception of mimes and lighthouse operators from the 1800s, people don't work alone; they shouldn’t look for work alone, either.

1. Take five: Minutes, not months. Take a break, take a shower and take it easy. Then get back to it. If you really are treating your job search like a job in itself - something we hear every day - then you'll set your alarm clock, put on appropriately dapper threads and practice smiling in the mirror for five minutes every day just to make sure it still appears natural.

We don't want to sugarcoat just how grueling a job search can be. Just remember: the longer it takes and the harder it is to find your next gig, the better that victory lap will feel. Good luck, and be sure to look out for your fellow job seeker out there on Main Street trodding over the remnants of confetti.

Hi Jade, many larger employers are always looking for talent, so their job postings stay up for long periods of time. That doesn’t mean they aren’t hiring, so if you see something that catches your eye, give it a shot!

Hi Leon, I’m really sorry to hear that. If your area is suffering from layoffs it may be a high unemployment rate is contributing to your long job search. If you have friends or family in another location, you may want to consider moving to find better opportunities. Wishing you all the best of luck, we’re thinking of you.

I have heard leon,s story hundreds of times over the past two years myself included .It seem if you dont work and do not want to you get all the help in the world. The people that do try to work and cannot get a job are treated like crap

I know another reason that certain companies don’t want made public, and that is age discrimination. There are three auto parts stores in my area, and two of them use your site to advertise available jobs. Being semi-retired and on Social Security, I need something to supplement my monthly payment. A parts delivery person would be ideal for me. It pays little, but I don’t need much. 20 or 30 years very productive time in the workforce has given me time management skills many younger people have not mastered.
I’ve recently had the opportunity to meet and discuss this with a current employee of one of these stores, who told me that company management ignores applicants they see as being older, based on their work history. This is in direct violation of Federal law, but they know it’s a law that is next to impossible to enforce.
Just thought I would share this with you- don’t know what you will do with this information, but I’ve done my part for what it’s worth.

agree that age dicriminatio is next to impossible to enforce so the loop hole needs to be closed doesnt seem to be much intrest in that either because these companys keep right on doing it.They say we dont discriminate !! well they dont They just dont call you. So Good Luck to Leon

HI Janet, that’s a very specific skill set, you may want to expand your search if you aren’t finding anything with studios. Though, have you tried LifeTouch and other portrait studios that do school pictures and family portraits? Those usually have fairly steady business.

It isn’t just a matter of this current recession. My difficulties in finding work were going on ever since the late 1970s-when jobs were more plentiful! I have had my personality assaulted, then I would run into politics and policies. I am just getting a handle on it.

It isn’t my resume. I get plenty of interviews in my field which is teaching. I have lost several times to politics. Found out later that a principal’s wife needed a job or someone else whose spouse already worked for the school district. Other times they hired locally because they thought I lived too far away. I’ve heard all kinds of things. When they do bother to call back, it’s been “You did good, don’t worry, you’ll get something”. It has been two years. I’ve been beat out by interns just graduating even though I have experience, so there may be some age discrimination. I don’t have an American Idol personality, so that is part of it. But I have intelligence and I know my content. That is just not what people are looking for anymore. I was told that a person who recently beat me out of a job that “she’s no rocket scientist, but she has a good personality”.

As far as your Snag a job postings, Jade is right. I’ve applied and got an email back in 5 minutes saying I wasn’t qualified. Then I found out the job was no longer available. Now that same job is back on there. I can’t even get an interview in retail, motels, or convenience stores.

In the 80′s I could walk in and they would say, “can you come back tonight?” Recession? Age discrimination? Politics? Personality? I don’t know. I just know that all I can do is keep trying. My unemployment ran out in April, so my husband and I mow yards in the evening when he gets off work. I sell books on half.com and have cut our bills to the bare minimum.
Guess I needed to vent this morning!

If you know your personality is rubbing folks the wrong way, see if your local employment commission conducts mock interviews. You can work on your interviewing skills so you can get a chance to show off that great content knowledge!

Regarding the job posting, you may have been disqualified due to lack or relevant experience, licensee, assessment scores or any number of things. I’m sorry it didn’t work, but we’re trying to find the right fit jobs for folks, and every job isn’t right for everyone.

Job searches have definitely changed a lot in the last 30 years, but it sounds like you and your husband are a great team doing everything you can to succeed. Everyone needs a good vent now and again, thanks for being civil about it! I wish you both the very best of luck, and I hope something comes along soon.

Hello. I have skills in being a Desktop and Network Technicians. I have a lot of experience in dealing with customers, but I can’t find a job with these skill sets. I recently graduated with an Associates Degree in Networking Technologies Systems Administrator, but all I can find on Snagajob are the Select Staffing organization. I keep applying to everything I come across, and its starting to feel hopeless. Craigslist and other temporary agencies don’t seem to be helping much. Is there something I am missing or not doing?

Hi Anthony, I’m sorry you’re having such a hard time, it sounds like you’re doing the right things. Double check that there are no errors in your applications and resume’s (spelling or grammar) and keep applying, but if you’re qualified and applying, your area might be saturated with out-of-work tech professionals, or there might not be much of a market for your particular skill set in the area. Don’t give up though! Customer service skills carry over to many other industries, and if you just plain need a job you can check into retail, particularly consumer electronic stores, where both of your strengths will come into play.

So I’m 19 years old, with absolutely no job expierience. for the past 3 years I have been out on a constant basis looking and looking. the farthest i can get is if someone calls me back, then after that call back they’ll tell me “well we might contact you again later” and nothing. my job expierience is killing me, but how can i get exp when no one will give it to me. Doesn’t seem to matter about qualifications, personality, or even people i know. Got on here looking for motivation and instead saw the comments, and now i feel like giving up on this endless search. any advice, at all?

Hi David, we’ve definitely got advice for that, and it’s right here: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/teen-job-experience Good luck with your job search! Sometimes the hardest job to get is the first one – take what you can get and make off with the job experience!

Hi. I just want to say that I don’t really think that I fit the status quo, or the mold of the norm. I don’t think the traditional 9-5, 2-11, ham-n’-egger, nickle-n’-dimer jobs are a good fit for me at all. I would however, love to hear about ways I can get into creative fictional writing, to guarantee that I’ll be employeed, get paid, and won’t have to rely on a gaggle of people governed solely, or at least in part, mainly, by self-interest and the bottom line in order to pay rent and eat. I shouldn’t have to take whatever I can get, nor have to choose between eating and paying rent. It is a long shot, I suppose, even with the talent that I possess, but I am ready to be proactive and to channel my anger to produce a positive change. There’re only so many ways you can hear “No” before falling victim to being disaffected. I know my plight isn’t your fault, so don’t take it personally. I needed to vent. It’ll be alrigt. I just want to know how to successfully break into the writing arena and process. Thanks, and God bless.

I have worked at many jobs over a 40 year period, and have been unemployed often. I am 58 and am trying to get back into the job market after having been out of work over a year now. I usually have landed temporary jobs and seasonal but I want something more permanent to get me to 65. I have been doing some volunteer work lately. Any advice or encouragement is greatly appreciated

Hi. I’m 21 years old and I don’t have any job experiences. But I do have a resume made so if employers can see what type of person I am and what work I have done. I go to multiple sites every single day to see if there is any job openings in my area. If there is I apply if I’m qualify by there requirements. But usually not since they want experienced workers. What could I do in order for me to get hired? Also I really don’t want to work at a fast food place. Also which way is faster way in getting hired sending in a online application or a paper application? And is there any way for my online application to get look at first? Thanks.

I have been unemployed for a month now and I’m new to snagajob, I have applied for a few job’s and have not got any reply’s can any body telll me what I’m doing wrong and what should I do.Please help I am at the end of the rope holding by a thread.

I have been out of work for well over a year . I have applied on line with no results. I am very frustrated and these employers a getting to picky as to who they hire. I’m back in Ohio since May 20th. My reseme I sent to them as requested, but that isn’t working either. I don’t have a computer,so the library is my only resorse.If I send my reseme to you maybe there is somthing missing or changes to be made. Thank You..

I am nineteen and have 5 years of part-time experience working for my schools. I got back from college two weeks ago and everywhere has told me they did their summer hiring in April! I didn’t know this! I go back to college in mid September. Is it too late to find a job? I’m considering posting flyers advertising that I can tutor math over the summer for students that didn’t do well last year and need to catch up.

I’ve been at this job hunt hting since January 30, 2009, that’s when I lost the job I had. A job I might say that I’m very good at. I’ve only had 2 intreveiws since being unemployed. I lost unemployment compensation because I left a job that I could not handle because it was outside in the heat that I had not been in for 16 years (since April-May 1993). But because I left I lost any money from unemployment. I’ve been surviving by living with my dad, and his social security income. I’ve tightened the budget, I handle the bills for my dad since my mother died in Sept 1999, we get by just barely. Now it has gotten to where the money is not carring us through to the end of the month. we’ve done yard sales to a very small success. I done work for friends to help make ends meet. My youngest son, his wife, and 2 year old son also live with us. He goes to welding school 5 days a week then works 3-4 nights a week maybe 4-6 hour a day. He’s barely making it too. He has 8-9 week before he finishes welding school. I have gotten so over filling out applications online and not hearing anything back. I feel like I’m wasting my time. Whatever happened to going to a place of business talking to someone face to face to get a job. I admit I’m not interested in a job cashiering, so I don’t look at them. I’ve got 20+ years in the retail industry, (5 years – Montgomery Wards/Jefferson Ward & 16 years – Ace Hardware). I’m just having a hard time with this job hunt thing. It has become a JOB to find a job.

As my earlier submission I have mentioned that I am having great difficulty in finding a technology job. At the same time I have been applying to retail related jobs as well. I have applied to most if not all that I come across. I have had one interview at a Macys store but still no luck. Most jobs how ever keep turning me down because I fail to match the questions that they posted on Snagajob. Am I just not saying the right stuff? I am afraid I’ll have to just suck it up and join the military like our family tradition if there is no one willing to take me in for work. Is there seriously something i am missing here?

I am not sure if it is my resume or not but I am changing careers and do not have any experience in human resources. I have recently graduated school and have been applying to many of the positions on the site from entry level and assistants, and to no avail no replies. Seems like every employer requires experience and I cannot get the experience without getting a job. How can I make myself more marketable without experience?

Can you leverage any of your academic experience into real-world experience? Did you – or can you – do an HR internship? This internship would really boost your resume and help you get your foot in the door.

Hello, I am 18 and have been looking for a job since I was 16. Since this summer started I have applied for many jobs since I wake up until I go to sleep. I feel like no one is even looking at my applications and I am just wasting my time. I recently also graduated from high school thinking I would have a better chance being able to back myself up with a diploma just to find myself in the same unemployed situation. I have never had a job in my life but I have all the desire and enthusiasm to have one now that I will need it for college. Employers want experience and I am aware of that so I display everything I have on the table for them to see but nothing has happened. Any tips? I would greatly appreciate it, thank you.

If you are applying with error free applications to entry level jobs that match your schedule, you may be in an area that’s particularly tough for entry-level work. Have you considered using volunteer work to get a leg up in your job search? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8DylxV4LMc

You may also want to look into work-study programs offered by your school!

Hi-just wanted to weigh in here. I lost my job at a large health care org here CA back in Jan- was hired out of my field in May- by a retail giant… but part time only. Can’t seem to break back into a call center job. Don’t know if its the age thing or not-beginning to think so-
I’ve had a few interviews-but considering I’ve applied for about 500 jobs around my area-which is Sacto, and across CA…not good. I too am worried about becoming homeless.
And I’ve not had a problem with getting hired before..

I’ve been searching for a job for about 7-8 months, but as a student in college I couldn’t be as vigorous in my search. Except for the last month I’ve spent about 12 hours a day job searching and I’m feeling burnt out. I apply online for about a third of those hours and spend the rest going out to meet managers and hand out resumes. Yet no one has even asked me for an interveiw yet. As I stated before I’m feeling burnt out, tired beyond belief, and honestly a little heartbroken; I have no idea what to do! My parents aren’t helping any, actually they are not only hindering my progress(as a result of not having a job the exact moment they wanted, literally, they have ‘requested’ I no longer drive anywhere, have access to my phone or computer at all for Thursday-Monday, or be social at all if I’m talking to anyone at all it better be job hunt related) they are also constently killing my ‘wind’ as well as morale by telling me that I must be doing something wrong, that it’s all my fault no one will hire me, I must be not working at this hard enough and I’m slacking on purpose… etc. etc. etc. It’s been very rough and I just need more then a few minutes to recover from what I consider emotional abuse. Is it wrong that I feel that I need more time? Is my emotional state going effect my job hunt? Should I continue to relentlessly job hunt or would it be alright to take a break? And if I could how long should I rest for?

I lost my job some time ago and I have been searching for a home based job. I have looked at many but I am afraid that they are scams. Do you have any ideas or information, where to find a home based job that is legitimate? Thanks

This info was so helpful. I went back and checked my resume and found that it was a mess.
I signed my husband up over a year ago with my email address. Later when I needed to look for work, I signed up. Using the same address. Reviewing my resume, I saw I was looking for child care, everything looked fine except somehow our info run together. When I got to the experience section. It had, “I have over thirty years experience in SHEET METAL WORK, etc. THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE REASON, I DIDN’T GET ANY RESPONSES…YOU THINK!

I would really like to have a job that requires a good amount of manual labor. However, I have no experience. I am 20 years old and have a 2 year old, so I have limited availability (6am-5pm Monday- Friday). I work really hard and am a fast learner, but I can’t seem to find a company that will hire with less than 3 months experience…

Hi Elaine – That’s a tricky one. Are you saying that you are available 6am-5pm Monday-Friday or that is the time in which you are unavailable? Many manual labor positions need you to work during the day. If you want to gain more experience, volunteer somewhere. You can add it to your resume and will also gain valuable references. I think something like Habitat for Humanity would be a good start, you can get some manual labor experience!

This is my perspective: I have had little sucess finding employment in my profession as a heavy equipment mechanic. First I was told that I doo not have formal education and I returned to college to get trained on modern equipment. Now I have a degree and several certifications from ASE. Now I am told that I have ne experience related to the positions available. Either I do not have education or experience, which is more important? I feel that employers are unwilling to employ anyone who does not have a fresh work history or is a model emploee verified by who? I learned in business school that employers prefer to employ young people who have never been exposed to bad influences and can teach them their way of doing things even if their way is wrong. This is very frustrating for older workers. It is like when Circuit City announced they were going to hire younger, cheaper employees.

I just wanted to say to all of us job seekers out there to please never,ever,give up,when I dont here back from a job I will contact them again and ask them straight out why I was not considered for the job,and I ask them for a possible answer to that question so I can learn from it,and by doing that that helps me to turn anything negative into a positive.I always have an attitude that I am as good of a worker as the next guy,remember,we are a child of the living God and that alone makes us worthy people.One more thing,my attitude is even though I may get a thousand no’s,that one yes will erase the no’s.Attitude is Everything,so God Bless and maybe we will be working together somewhere soon.